Ramen elf- ficionados lap up the loot at Santa where a broth-eren of slurpers relish the reigning doe.

We came early to secure some of the kurobuta pork ($4.50 extra). This swiney supplement gets snapped up tout de sueeet (leaving later lunchers devoid of these succulent chunks of fat filled finery.) Pork broth kept this pen-ultimate bowl ($7.95) on theme with a porkade cascade unifying a hard boiled egg ($1.00 extra) in its nest noodles:

A raft of nori supported the sorbet simulation of spicy roe ($4.00 extra) paddling ova a soy sauce broth. This embryonic tonic of pork, bamboo shoots, green onion and bean sprouts went down the hatch with a saline crunch of the fish egg micro membranes wound into the ribbons of ramen ($7.95):

Those in line for Santa:

... were unlikely to request puppies or ponies in favor of premium pork (if there was any left).

The last time we visited a Maoz was in the Netherlands but today we only had to trot over to Telegraph to feel all full of falafel.

This vegetarian chain has sprung up in Berkeley where we topped off our pita and salad "meal deals" ($8.20 and $8.95) with the salad bar offerings.

The pita was lined with eggplant and hummus with crisply fried falafel:

... cradled in a pouch of DIY dressed, crunchy, creamy, chickpea chompability. We subbed out the Belgian fries for sweet potato (50¢ supplement):

... and got a cone of cravable, flaky-fortressed, soft-centered, sweet spud strips. The carrot apple juice ($1.00 supplement) was fresh squeezed and a sweet swig of roots and fruits. We got another juice with the salad meal that was pleasingly punched up with orange juice:

Add ons (75¢ each) of avocado and feta added dimesion to our salad:

... which we also augmented with self serve selections from the neatly kept bar:

This dish was like a bread-free version of the sandwich selection (which we determined was the funner of the two since you eat it with your hands.)

A cup of soup ($3.50) was a lentil, onion and broccoli brew that added a warming balance to our lunch.

It's nice to see this vittle vector in the Bay Area. It seems like the picked the right city (since Berkeley is highly vegivourian) but the appealing pita, juices and those sweet potato fries would woo omni-tarians too.

It's time to tank up on hybrid and heirloom tomato plants in the north and south bay.

Love Apple Farms is selling their select seedlings for $3.75-$5.75 each. Get some swell sproutage from the garden that supplies Manresa and grow little love apples at home or get your goods from the Marin Master Gardeners. It's worth arriving early to this annual market since these babies get snapped up quickly. The 'mater masters help to match you up with plants that will thrive in your microclimate.

Roasted pinenuts and basil contributed in this vein-acular of pleasing pasta pouches which we savored slowly with escargots ($9.00):

These pastis garlic buttered nooks held tender pods of gastro goodness washed down with a crisp 2008 M. Chapoutier, Crozes-Heritage.

Beets ($10.00):

... were given a herbaceous baseline with watercress and a tangy creaminess from goat cheese. Their earthiness was echoed in the roasted chanterelles and parmesan topping the Anson Mills semoule ($11.00):

This creamy construction was a rich and reorderable ration. This grainy goodness also came with the perfectly cooked cotes de porc ($24.00):

Jardiniere is holding a special Monday night prix fixe dinner on April 4th as a benefit for Japan relief. Guest Chef Michael Hung of Bushi Tei will make a 3 course meal (that includes Kurabota pork belly torchon) with pairings by Sommelier Eugenio Jardim.

The cost of $55 includes wine pairings and $10 of each dinner will go to earthquake and tsunami relief.

... had a rich pork broth bolstered by black sesame with a nest of noshable noodles holding a hard boiled egg and baby bok choy. We warmed ourselves with this deeply flavored seed-ductive soup after munching on tasty taro chips with a edamame hummus ($4.00):

The sake list includes flights for those wanting to sample a selection. We liked the line up of Take no Tsuyu, Urakasumi and Tengumai ($12.00):

... which ranged from delicate to muscular.

Bacon and eggs were given a twist with skewers of gingko nuts and bacon over an onsen tamago ($6.00):

... while the beef tongue ($7.00):

... kept ours busy with a smear of hot Japanese mustard over tender bites budding with flavor. This pea-rametered, salad-vatory sensation is required ordering.

Grilled rice triangles with sweet soy sauce and melting morsels of beef tataki, ribbons of konbu and uni were terrific tastes of turf and surf.

House made ice cream ($7.00):

... came in a kicky ginger and rich black sesame seed with balanced flavors and a refreshing restraint to their sweetness. These cheerful churnings were a fine flavorful finale.

Chef Vincent Scofield:

... and co-owner Mari Takahashi:

... kept the cuisine cruising while co-owner Gil Payne:

... attended to the front guiding guests through the sake and wines.

You can visit Mission Street munchatorium and simultaneously support Japan during their upcoming sake pairing dinner this Thursday, March 31st. This four course meal with rice wines (including a 18 year old koshu sake) will benefit the Japan Disaster Relief fund.

... for a beverage ball known as the 12th annual Whiskies of the World.

The addition of water to this peaty party opened up the evening to an enhanced awareness of inebriation - the steep stairs and wobble of the waves allowed the venue to operate as its own sobriety test.

Fortunately, this event always ballasts up bellies beforehand with a beefed up buffet.

Etude, Hall and Joseph Phelps will be among the wineries ringing City Hall at this year's Toast of the Town. This terrior tour also includes tidbits from top tucker-atoriums including Twenty Five Lusk, Waterbar and Bar Agricole.

You can finally flight City Hall while cutting through all that red grape.

... at Picco Restaurant chilled us out with their ginger beer-bubbled snowy sips. This orange juice jostled, sleek sleet was the perfect potion to toast the start of Spring with a citrus and ginger sparkle.

They are also making barrel-aged cocktails. The negroni:

... picked up some of the timbre of the timber after basking in casking. We loved the characteri-sticks the oak soak awoke in this Leopold gin, vermouth and bitters-bitten beverage. The barrel aged Manhattan was sold out so we'll have to check that one out when they roll out the new batch.

We sat down at the bar:

... to their "Marin Monday" meal. This once a week dinner ($35.00 per person):

... includes local, laudable produce, meats and dairy. This evening's menu was a comfort food collection including mac and cheese. A creamy crock of cavatelli, Pt. Reyes Toma cheese bechamel and wild mushrooms was bedecked with bacon and breadcrumbs. These posh pasta poles punctuated a smoky pulled pork sandwich bumpered by a soft roll with a side of shredded savoy slaw with cilantro, carrots and garlic with crisp-crusted Kennebecs poking from the middle of our MM melange.

Chef Bruce Hill visited Sendai with a team of toques in 2009. These chefs are coming together on April 3rd to raise funds for Japan relief at Prospect Restaurant. This $300 per person dinner will direct 100% of the proceeds to charity.

On April 9th, this crew will hold an event at Yoshi's where a walk around tasting will direct the $75 per person ticket price to this relief effort.